348-Good & Bad News

The night blanketed Konohagakure, its usual liveliness replaced by a serene stillness broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant sound of nocturnal animals. The village lights twinkled like scattered stars beneath the vast sky, a quiet reflection of the celestial canopy above.

Atop the Hokage Stonefaces Monument, Renjiro stood alone, his silhouette stark against the moonlit backdrop. The monument bore the carved visages of Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, the towering figures gazing protectively over the village they had built and nurtured.

Renjiro's eyes traced each face in turn. Hashirama's strong, compassionate visage seemed to radiate the warmth of a man who had dreamed of peace.

Tobirama's stern countenance reflected the harsh pragmatism that had fortified the village's foundations. Hiruzen's face, though carved with wisdom, seemed to remind Renjiro of the complexities and burdens of leadership.

He exhaled deeply, the cool night air filling his lungs and easing the tension that had knotted his chest.

Earlier that evening, Jiraiya had instructed him to wait outside the Hokage's office, promising to return shortly. But the bustling activity within—the hurried footsteps of aides, the low murmur of strategizing voices—only amplified the storm of thoughts swirling in Renjiro's mind. Seeking solace, he had wandered to the Stonefaces Monument, the one place where he knew he could find quiet.

As he reached the summit, the sprawling view of the village stretched out before him, illuminated softly by lanterns and moonlight.

'I think I should come here more often,' he thought, a faint whisper of appreciation flickering in his mind as he took in the breathtaking sight. The sea of rooftops and winding streets below seemed almost tranquil, a stark contrast to the turmoil he felt inside.

The breeze brushed past him, cool and soothing, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and earth. It teased his hair and seemed to whisper in his ear, momentarily quelling his restless thoughts. Yet, no matter how serene the night seemed, it couldn't erase the weight that had settled in his chest.

He muttered aloud, "This shouldn't have happened."

His decision to confront Tani, the jinchūriki of Kumo, now loomed over him like an ominous shadow. What had initially been a reckless attempt to test his mettle now had potentially catastrophic consequences.

Renjiro clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening as he pieced together the broader implications of his actions. The possibility of war between Konoha and Kumo wasn't just a hypothetical—it was a near certainty if tensions escalated further.

Renjiro's mind churned, grappling with the grim scenarios that might unfold. 'If both Konoha and Kumo go to war,' he thought, 'Suna, Iwa, and Kiri won't just sit idly by. They'll either pick a side or exploit the chaos for their own gain. Either way, the entire shinobi world could be plunged into conflict.'

Renjiro smiled bitterly as the realization struck him like a physical blow. If the worst came to pass, his actions could spark the Third Shinobi War, a calamity that would claim countless lives and leave the world scarred once more.

Renjiro shivered, though not from the cold. The enormity of his potential culpability was crushing. "So, that's it," he murmured bitterly to himself. "I'll probably be the cause of the Third Shinobi War."

A cocktail of emotions churned within him—anger, resignation, and a chilling sense of acceptance. Part of him raged at his own recklessness, while another part, dark and scornful, whispered that this was inevitable in a world as brutal as theirs. And yet, a third part wondered if this was some twisted cosmic joke, a cruel game played by Fate itself.

Renjiro closed his eyes, trying to banish the torrent of thoughts. Until now, he had approached his second life in the shinobi world with a certain detachment, accepting its harshness without questioning his role in it.

But the possibility of triggering a war—of being responsible for untold suffering—weighed heavily on his conscience, piercing the armour of apathy he had built around himself to protect him from Reality.

"Why was I reincarnated here?" The question came unbidden, a raw, unanswerable cry in the silence of the night. He had never sought to understand why he had been thrust into this dangerous world, but tonight, the question gnawed at him.

And then there was the matter of Hiruzen Sarutobi. Renjiro's lips curled into a bitter smile as his thoughts turned to the Hokage. His opinion of Hiruzen had been solidified long before he had reincarnated into this world and while he came to understand some of his brazen choices, it still did not justify his wrong in Renjiro's eyes.

'And I have given him room to make another bad decision.'

The man was undoubtedly a formidable shinobi, but his leadership left much to be desired. Renjiro thought of Sakumo Hatake, ostracized and driven to despair under Hiruzen's rule. He remembered Kumo's brazen attempt to kidnap Hinata Hyūga years later, only for Hiruzen to appease them by sacrificing Hizashi Hyūga who was just protecting his niece.

What chance did Renjiro have, he wondered, when his blunder was far greater than anything Hizashi had done?

His situation was worse.

A shift in the air snapped him from his spiralling thoughts. The chakra signature that flickered into existence beside him was unmistakable, but Renjiro didn't need his chakra-sensing abilities to know who it was. He didn't turn his head as Jiraiya appeared, standing casually a few feet away.

"Are you alright?" Jiraiya's voice broke the silence, its usual joviality replaced with a quiet concern.

Renjiro hesitated before replying, his voice subdued. "I'm a little tired."

Jiraiya nodded, his expression unreadable in the dim moonlight. For a while, neither spoke, the silence stretching between them.

Finally, Jiraiya broke it, his tone lighter now, as though trying to lift the heavy mood. "Well, I've got both good news and bad news. Which one do you want first?"

Renjiro didn't respond immediately, his gaze still fixed on the village below. Taking the silence as permission to continue, Jiraiya said, "The good news is that you're now eligible to be an ANBU captain. You completed your mission by obtaining the research information, after all."

Renjiro's lips twitched faintly, though the gesture didn't quite reach his eyes.

"What about Kakashi?" he asked, still not looking at Jiraiya.

"Kakashi completed his mission a few days ago," Jiraiya replied. "He's an ANBU captain now too."

Renjiro nodded, digesting the information. There was a pause before he asked,

"What's the bad news?"

Jiraiya hesitated, his normally easygoing demeanour faltering. He turned to fully face Renjiro, his voice uncharacteristically serious.

"You're relieved from your duties in the ANBU."

The words hung in the air, their weight settling over Renjiro like a shroud. He didn't react immediately, his face a mask of neutrality as he processed the statement. The cool breeze stirred again, ruffling his hair and carrying away the echoes of Jiraiya's voice.

Jiraiya placed a hand on Renjiro's shoulder, his grip firm but not unkind. "You're a brilliant shinobi, Renjiro," he said softly. "But right now, you need to step back. Take some time to think things through."

Renjiro finally turned to look at Jiraiya, his black eyes reflecting a mix of emotions—confusion, frustration, and a flicker of gratitude. Jiraiya gave him a small, encouraging smile before stepping back. Without another word, the older shinobi turned and began walking away, his figure disappearing into the night.

Renjiro remained where he was, the monument silent witness to his turmoil. The village lights twinkled below, oblivious to the storm raging within one of its protectors. "This shouldn't have happened," Renjiro murmured again, his voice barely audible above the breeze.

And yet, as he stood there, he couldn't help but wonder if perhaps, just perhaps, this was the beginning of a new chapter—one where he could rise from the ashes of his mistakes and forge a brighter path.

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